Cushioned underframe for railway cars

ABSTRACT

A cushioned underframe of the sliding sill type is provided with a cushion pocket within which a hydraulic cushioning unit is disposed. The cushion pocket which includes an opening in the bottom wall of the stationary sill is normally covered by a cover and carrier plate which is removably connected to the stationary sill. The cover and carrier plate is provided with an anchoring s top which projects downwardly below the carrier plate and is supported on a base plate which is connected to side shear plates, in turn rigidly bolted to the side walls of the stationary sill. The cushioning unit and anchoring assembly with the carrier plate provide means whereby the cushion may be readily installed and removed in the cushion pocket.

[451 Apr. 9, 1.974v

[ CUSHIONED UNDERFRAME FOR RAILWAY CARS [75] Inventors: Ronald W. Marsh,Michigan City,

Ind; Willis H. Knippel, Palos Park, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Pullman Incorporated, Chicago, ll]. 22 Filed: Oct. 16,1972 [21] App]. No.: 298,162

Peterson 213/43 Hettlinger et al. 213/8 Primary ExaminerDrayton E.Hoffman Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hilmond O. Vogel 57 i ABSTRACT Acushioned underframe of the sliding sill type is provided with a cushionpocket within which a hydraulic cushioning unit is disposed. The cushionpocket which includes an opening in the bottom wall of the stationarysill is normally covered by a cover and carrier plate which is removablyconnected to the stationary sill. The cover and carrier plate isprovided with an anchoring s top which projects downwardly below thecarrier plate and is supported on a base plate which is connected tosideshear plates, in turn rigidly bolted to the side walls of thestationary'sill. The cushioning unit and anchoring assembly with thecarrier plate provide means whereby the cushion may be readily installedand removed in the cushion pocket.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 46 43 1 flZ The present application isrelated to assignees copending application, Ser. No. 298,112 dated Oct.16,

BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION '1. Field of the Invention The presentinvention relates to the art of cushioning arrangements for railwaycars.

2. Description of the Prior Artv Cushioned underframes of the prior artgenerally include a stationary sill within which a sliding sill ispositioned. Impacts on the car or sliding sill are absorbed by acushioning device which is positioned between sets of rigid stops on thestationary sill and stops carried by the sliding sill. The-carrier platenormally is bolted to the underneath flanges of the stationary sill andcovers the cushion pocket within which the cushioning device isdisposed. The cushioning devices of the prior art are generallydisposedbetween the stationary sill stops in a pretensioned condition. That is,the cushion is slightly contracted with the return springs tending tobias the cushioning device toits fully extended condition against thepermanent sill stops. Thus, when the removal of the cushioning device isto be effected, it is generally necessary to cut the springs with acutting torch to relieve the tension so that the cushioning device canthen be dropped from its pocket. This is often a dangerous andundesirable operation. Clamping devices also have been used which areadjustable to compress the cushioning device further and to hold thesame in the compressed position while removal of the cushion iseffected.Such clamping devices, however, are not usually available in the fieldor repair shops. These are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,028,019, Apr. 3,1962 and 2,330,706, Sept. 28, 1943. The present device is easilyremovable since the unit in its working 'position is securely supportedon the carrier-plate,

which'is readily attached to the stationary sill and the anchoringdevice, which must be able to absorb the high cushion forces, may beeasily and readily secured to the stationary sill and; projectsdownwardly therefrom.

SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION The present invention has for its objective acushioning arrangement for a sliding sill underframe wherein thecushioning device may be readily and quickly removed since' thecushioning device, the cover and/or plate, said plates beinginterconnected by a plurality of carrier plate and the stress absorbingand anchoring means are all embodied in one unit which can readilytension rods or straps, in turn, also connected to an end plate withsaid end plate engaging one end of the anchoring member and the slidingplate engaging the other end of the anchoring member whereupon thecushioning unit is securely held in position by the anchoring means. I

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view partially insection ofa portion of a sliding sill in underframe construction;

FIG. 2 is 'a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 22of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing a portion of the underframeconstruction of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 4--4of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED A EMBODIMENT 13 and lower flanges 14.Transverse support members 15 are spaced along the length of thestationary sill 11 which is substantially the length of the body of therailway car. An elongated opening centrally disposed on said stationarysill 11 is designated at 16, best shown in FIG. 2.

The underframe being of the cushioned type, is provided with a slidingsill 17 supported on the transverse support member 15 in, slidingrelation and is disposed beneath the deck structure 18. The sliding sillcomprises a pair of longitudinally extending and laterally spacedvertical sill walls 19 connected by a top wall 20, said sill having ahat-shaped configuration. The sliding sill walls 19 also include lowerflanges 21 which are slidable on slide pads 22 supported on thetransverse support members 15. The elongated opening within the sillwalls 12 provide a cushion pocket which is normally covered by means ofa cover or carrier plate 23. A cushioning assembly, generally designatedat 24, is

. disposed in the sill pocket. The cushioning assembly 24 be attached tothe cushioned underframe. This isv achieved by the carrier plate beingprovided with a fixed anchoring member which includes a box-likestructure projecting downwardly onto a base plate which extends upwardlyon opposie sides in relatively inverted T-shape relation and whichisreadily and quickly secured by means of side shear plate to thestationary sill walls and flanges of a stationary sill. Theanchoringmeans forms a torque box type of construction which readily andsimply transmits the stresses, shear forces, etc. to the stationary sillof the car and yet permits the cushion and carrier plate to be assembledas a unit and readily removed. The cushioning unit is of a type whereina a coil spring arrangement is held captive between a cylinder head anda sliding retainer includes a hydraulic cylinder 25 having an end plate2 6 I rigidly connected thereto at one end thereof. A piston 27 isslidably disposed in the cylinder 25 and includes a piston rod 28extending outwardly through the open end of the cylinder 25. Thecushioning assembly may 'be of a type which is disclosed in U.S. Pats.No.

3,148,869, Sept. 15, 1964; U.S. Pat. No. 3,150,866, Sept. 29, 1964; U.S.Pat. No. 3,194,415, July 13, 1 965 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,216,591, Nov. 9,1965. The details of the hydraulic components of the cushioning assemblyhave not been specifically disclosed since the hydraulic valves, etc.,of the cushion are not important-to the present invention. The functionin detail of the cushioning device is well disclosed in theaforementioned patents which are incorporated herein by reference. Thepresent cushion device includes generally a high pressure chamber 29 onone side of the piston and a low pressure chamber 30 on the other side.Further, the unit utilizes an accumulator or flexible boot as is shownin the aforementioned patents. The piston rod 28 provides a passage 31which, upon suitable orificing, acts as a passage for hydraulic fluidbetween the chambers 29 and 30, also as described in the aforementionedpatents. The present hydraulic cushion unit has a metering arrangementso that a constant force travel is effected during the operation of thecushion.

A spring retainer plate 32 is connected to the outermost end of thepiston rod 28 and a coil spring 33 is carried on the cylinder 25 andretained captive between the retainer plate 32 and the end plate 26.Axially aligned openings 35 are provided in end plate 26 and retainerplate 32. Tension rods 36 extend through the openings 35, as disclosedin FIGS.-1 and 2, nuts 37 are screwed to the ends of the tension rods36. An end plate 34 also including openings 35, is provided at the otherends of the tension rods 36 and nuts 37 also are connected to the otherends of said rods for securing the end plate 34 thereon. An anchoringstop is generally designated at 38. The anchoring stop, as best shown inFIG. 6, includes vertical laterally spaced side walls 39 interconnectedby a top web 40. The walls 39 extend downwardly through an opening 41 inthe carrier plate 23 and are rigidly connected to a bottom or base plate42 which extends horizontally between the sill walls 12. The base plate42, as best shown in FIG. 2, includes longitudinally spaced verticalextending walls or'flanges 43 which terminate at the underneath side ofthe carrier plate 23. As best shown in FIG. 2, transverse gussets 44 arespaced at opposite longitudinal ends of the side walls 39 and aresuitably connected thereto. The flanges 43, gussets 44 and walls 39 arestructural and are securely welded together, the said flanges 43 beingwelded to the carrier plate 23. Thus, the anchoring stop is part of thecarrier plate 23 since it is connected thereto. Further, side shearplates 45 having longitudinally disposed projections 46 are also securedto the structure formed by the base plate 42 and flanges 43. The shearplates 45 are secured to the flanges 14 by means of the shear bolts 47,as best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6. Shear blocks 48 also are suitablyconnected to the underneath side of the carrier plate 23 for furthersupporting and reinforcing the shear plates 45 against longitudinaldisplacement. Especially shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the carrier plate 23which covers the elongated opening 16 is also secured to the stationarysill walls 12 by means of spacer plates 49 and bolt and nut fasteners50. Reinforcement of the sill walls 12 in the region of the shearfasteners 47 is further provided, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, bymeans of vertical gussets 51 suitably welded to the side walls 12'.FIGS. 1 and 6 disclose lugs 52 which are rigidly connected to and formovement with the sliding sill 17, the said lugs being disposed betweenthe spring retainer plate 32 and the end plate 34.

OPERATION The operation of the present sliding sill 17 and stationarysill member 1 l in conjunction with the cushioning device isconventional. In the position shown in FIG. 1, the sliding sill andstationary sill are in the nonoperating or neutral position.

Assuming now that an impact on the coupler on the left hand end of thesliding sill occurs, tending to move the sliding sill 17 to the rightfrom the neutral position shown in FIG. 1, the lugs 52 with the slidingsill engage the end plate 34 pulling the tension rod 36 and end plate 26to the position shown in FIG. 2, wherein the piston 27 is in a closed orcontracted position relative to the high pressure chamber 29, themovement of fluid from the said chamber 29 to the accumulator or lowpressure chamber providing for the cushioning action. The spring 33 is,of course, compressed and the plate 32 is against one end of theanchoring stop 38. After the impact, the spring 33 again moves thecushion to the position shown in FIG. 1. An impact on the other end of.the sliding sill, of course, causes movement of the sliding sill to theleft, whereupon the sill lugs 52 move the plate 32 away from theanchoring stop 38 and the cushion is again placed in the closed positionto provide for the cushioning action.

The present invention primarily is in the connection of the cushioningdevice to the carrier plate 23. The anchoring stop 38 is rigidly securedto the carrier plate and, therefore, by virtue of the tension rod andspring retaining relation, the entire cushion is supported on theanchoring rod and is retained thereon by the inherent tension orpretension of the spring 33. In assembly, therefore, it is a simplematter to hoist the carrier plate 23 in position with the cushionthereon and then inserting the same within the elongated opening 16 orcushion pocket. The sliding sill has the integral sliding sill lugs 52thereon and the longitudinal distance between the plates 32 and 34 issuch that the plates can easily be moved up into the cushion pocket tostraddle the opposite ends of the lugs 52. With the cushion disposedwithin the sliding sill and in the pocket of the center sill, the shearfasteners 47 (nuts and bolts) are now secured to rigidly connect theshear plates 45 onto the flanges 14 of the sill walls 12. The bolt andnut fasteners50 are also secured so that the carrier plate is firmlyconnected to the lower flanges 14. The shear blocks 48 also serve tofurther prevent anypossible longitudinal displacement of the shearplates 45 relative to the stationary sill. In the event of replacementof the cushion, it is a simple matter to remove the carrier plate,disconnect the bolt fasteners 47 and 50 and drop the entire carrierplate and cushioning unit downwardly. This arrangement precludes anyneed for cutting the spring by means of a cutting torch which isconventional to eliminate dangers from the inherent tension involved. Italso precludes the necessity of use of wedging devices of the prior artor separate retainer members which must be attached to the cushion tohold it in a slightly compressed position to permit removal of the same.In effect, the arrangement provides for unit replacement.

The device is particularly effective, also, since the construction ofthe base plate 42 and shear plates 45, etc. provide for a torque boxtype of arrangement which is securely connected to the stationary silland which directs the high forces resulting from impacts into thestationary sill and underframe of the car.

What is claimed is:

l. A cushioned underframe for a railway car having astationary sillincluding a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending verticalsill walls,

a sliding sill including a top wall and laterally spaced sliding sillside walls interconnected in hat-shaped relation and slidingly supportedwithin said stationary sill, the improvement of a cushioninginstallation comprising a carrier plate,

a vertically extending anchoring member connected to said carrier plate,

a fluid cushioning device including a fluid cylinder having a cylinderhead at one end and being open at its other end,

a piston and piston rod assembly reciprocally positioned within saidcylinder with said piston rod projecting outwardly from said open end,

a spring retainer plate connected to said projecting piston rod,

a return spring assembly about said fluid cylinder held captive betweensaid cylinder head and said retainer plate,

a second plate longitudinally spaced relative to said first plate,

tie means rigidly interconnecting said cylinder head and second plateagainst relative longitudinal extension,

said tie means positioning said spring retainer plate and second plateadjacent longitudinal opposite sides of said anchoring member in springbiased relation to connect said cushioning device to said carrier plate,

a pair of laterally spaced fixed stop lugs on said sliding sill sidewalls disposed on laterally opposite sides of said anchoring member, andbeing longitudinally. movable with said sill to compress said springduring relative reciprocation of said cylinder and piston rod assembly,

and means releasably connecting said carrier plate to said vertical sidewalls whereby said cushioning device is removably disposed within saidcushion pocket. 2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said tiemeans including at least one horizontally extending means including aplurality of tension rods disposed laterally outwardly of said cylinder,and said spring retainer plate including openings through which saidrods extend.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said verticallyextendinganchoring members including a structural member projecting verticallydownwardly from said carrier plate, and 1 a horizontal beam memberconnected to said structural member and connected to said vertical sillwalls.

. 5. The invention in accordance with claim 4, said anchoring memberincluding vertical laterally spaced side walls,

said side walls extending through and below said carrier plate,

said beam member being of box-like configuration including at laterallyspaced ends vertical shear plates connected to said vertical sill walls.

6 The invention in accordance with claim 1, said anchoring memberprojecting downwardly below said carrier plate,

a torque box including a horizontal base plate extending between saidsill walls,

said base plate having its longitudinally spaced ends upwardly extendingflanges and vertical shear plates connected to said flanges and saidbase plate,- said vertical shear plates being rigidly connected to saidsill walls. 7. The invention in accordance with claim 6, said base plateextending parallel to said carrier plate. n 8. The invention inaccordance with claim 7, said anchoring member comprising verticallyspaced side walls connected by an upper web, and

vertical longitudinally spaced end walls connected to said side walls toprovide a box-like configuration.

1. A cushioned underframe for a railway car having a stationary sillincluding a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending verticalsill walls, a sliding sill including a top wall and laterally spacedsliding sill side walls interconnected in hat-shaped relation andslidingly supported within said stationary sill, the improvement of acushioning installation comprising a carrier plate, a verticallyextending anchoring member connected to said carrier plate, a fluidcushioning device including a fluid cylinder having a cylinder head atone end and being open at its other end, a piston and piston rodassembly reciprocally positioned within said cylinder with said pistonrod projecting outwardly from said open end, a spring retainer plateconnected to said projecting piston rod, a return spring assembly aboutsaid fluid cylinder held captive between said cylinder head and saidretainer plate, a second plate longitudinally spaced relative to saidfirst plate, tie means rigidly interconnecting said cylinder head andsecond plate against relative longitudinal extension, said tie meanspositioning said spring retainer plate and second plate adjacentlongitudinal opposite sides of said anchoring member in spring biasedrelation to connect said cushioning device to said carrier plate, a pairof laterally spaced fixed stop lugs on said sliding sill side wallsdisposed on laterally opposite sides of said anchoring member, and beinglongitudinally movable with said sill to compress said spring duringrelative reciprocation of said cylinder and piston rod assembly, andmeans releasably connecting said carrier plate to said vertical sidewalls whereby said cushioning device is removably disposed within saidcushion pocket.
 2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said tiemeans including at least one horizontally extending tension memberdisposed laterally outwardly from said cylinder.
 3. The invention inaccordance with claim 1, said tie means including a plurality of tensionrods disposed laterally outwardly of said cylinder, and said springretainer plate including openings through which said rods extend.
 4. Theinvention in accordance with claim 1, said vertically extendinganchoring members including a structural member projecting verticallydownwardly from said carrier plate, and a horizontal beam memberconnected to said structural member and connected to said vertical sillwalls.
 5. The invention in accordance with claim 4, said anchoringmember including vertical laterally spaced side walls, said side wallsextending through and below said carrier plate, said beam member beingof box-like configuration including at laterally spaced ends verticalshear plates connected to said vertical sill walls.
 6. The invention inaccordance with claim 1, said anchoring member projecting downwardlybelow said carrier plate, a torque box including a horizontal base plateextending between said sill walls, said base plate having itslongitudinally spaced ends upwardly extending flanges and vertical shearplates connected to said flanges and said base plate, said verticalshear plates being rigidly connected to said sill walls.
 7. Theinvention in accordance with claim 6, said base plate extending parallelto said carrier plate.
 8. The invention in accordance with claim 7, saidanchoring member comprising vertically spaced side walls connected by anupper web, and vertical longitudinally spaced end walls connected tosaid side walls to provide a box-like configuration.
 9. The invention inaccordance with claim 8, said sill walls including longitudinally spacedshear lugs engaged by said shear plates.